Podcast Summary: "Mic Drop: Encrypted-ish: The Problems with a Signal Knockoff"

Click Here by Recorded Future News delves deep into a startling incident involving a misinformation-laden messaging app used by high-ranking U.S. government officials. In the episode titled "Mic Drop: Encrypted-ish: The Problems with a Signal Knockoff," released on May 16, 2025, host Dina Temple-Raston unpacks the vulnerabilities and implications of using an obscure messaging platform masquerading as the secure Signal app.

Introduction: A Picture That Speaks Volumes

The episode opens with a seemingly innocuous photograph taken in the U.S. Cabinet Room. At first glance, it appears to capture Mike Waltz, a government official, engaged in a routine meeting. However, Dina Temple-Raston hints at a much more significant revelation:

"To someone who knows what to look for, it was a digital crime scene in plain sight." [00:28]

This sets the stage for uncovering the hidden security lapse behind the image.

The Unveiling of TMSGNL: Not All Messaging Apps Are Created Equal

The cornerstone of the episode revolves around the messaging app TMSGNL, presented as a secure alternative to Signal. Micah Lee, an information security engineer and investigative journalist, becomes the key figure in uncovering the truth.

"When you saw the photo of Waltz using Telemessage, where were you?" [00:34]

An unnamed hacker provides insight into public perception:

"I think I actually saw it on Bluesky... making fun of Mike Waltz for checking Signal messages on the day that he's getting demoted, basically." [00:40]

Dina elaborates on the initial confusion:

"At first glance, it looked like Signal... But what he was actually using was something else entirely." [01:34]

Technical Breakdown: How TMSGNL Differs from Signal

Micah Lee explores the technical intricacies of TMSGNL, clarifying that while it resembles Signal, there are critical differences:

"It's almost exactly the same as Signal. They took the Signal code and added some of their own code on top of it to do the archiving... 95% of the code is just straight the same as Signal code." [03:11]

However, unlike Signal, TMSGNL archives all messages to comply with regulatory requirements, making it unsuitable for confidential government communications.

"TMSGNL archives because it's used by a very specific audience... They’re saving messages in case someone or some regulatory agency needs to access them later." [03:33]

Moreover, TMSGNL isn't available to the general public, limiting its use to contracted companies and government agencies.

"It's basically only available for companies or... government agencies that specifically sign a contract." [04:08]

The Security Breach: Exposing Unencrypted Communications

The plot thickens when Micah Lee receives a link to TMSGNL's source code from an anonymous source.

"I looked at the image... [and] then published a blog post... another message arrived." [05:00]

An anonymous hacker reveals a catastrophic vulnerability:

"I found a vulnerability in the TeleMessage website... it wasn't actually a vulnerability in the app itself. It was a vulnerability in the server that the app communicates with." [05:25]

Delving deeper, the hacker discovers unencrypted messages within memory dumps:

"These memory dumps... there was actually usernames and passwords... just in the memory dump." [05:59]

Dina translates the technical jargon:

"A memory dump from a server is like taking a snapshot of everything that server was thinking about at a specific moment in time... And in one memory dump, the hacker found a huge stash of usernames and passwords..." [06:13]

This revelation means that sensitive communications, presumed secure, were accessible in plain text, undermining the very premise of using encrypted messaging platforms.

"Plain text messages, not encrypted." [07:22]

Wider Implications: National Security at Stake

The breach's timing couldn't have been worse, following another incident where Waltz was implicated in a compromised Signal chat discussing classified military operations.

"When Waltz was caught in that photo using TMSGNL in a cabinet meeting just weeks later... it landed pretty hard." [09:22]

Micah Lee emphasizes the potential for widespread exploitation:

"I would be surprised if... adversaries didn't know about this... very likely that U.S. adversaries have looked into this company and have either found this vulnerability or other vulnerabilities..." [12:52]

The situation escalates when Telemessage suspends its services following further breaches, prompting political action:

"Senator Ron Wyden just published a letter urging the Attorney General to look into the serious threat to U.S. national security posed by Telemessage." [13:36]

Lessons Learned: Preventing Future Breaches

Dina Temple-Raston underscores the preventable nature of this security lapse:

"The crazy thing is this didn't need to happen. There are systems they could have used... ones with actual security baked in." [14:28]

The episode concludes by highlighting human error over sophisticated cyber attacks as the primary cause of the breach:

"Sometimes it's just hubris and a really bad group chat..." [14:48]

Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Secure Communications

"Mic Drop: Encrypted-ish: The Problems with a Signal Knockoff" serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that can arise from seemingly minor oversights in digital security. The episode meticulously unpacks how government reliance on a flawed messaging app led to significant breaches, emphasizing the necessity for robust, vetted communication tools in safeguarding national security.

Listeners are left contemplating the balance between convenience and security, especially in high-stakes environments where the stakes are nothing short of national integrity.

Notable Quotes:

• Dina Temple-Raston [00:28]: "To someone who knows what to look for, it was a digital crime scene in plain sight."

• Unnamed Hacker [05:00]: "I had like, two other people send me this link."

• Micah Lee [07:45]: "Really troubling if they were sent by someone like, say, Secretary of State Marco Rubio."

• Dina Temple-Raston [14:48]: "Sometimes it's just hubris and a really bad group chat."

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the Click Here episode, offering listeners insight into the critical issues surrounding digital security within government communications.